Stefano Berto

A Neurotensin Brake on Exploratory Drive under Persistent Threat

This study identifies a neural circuit in mice linking neurotensin in the lateral septum to avoidance behaviors under chronic stress.

Characterization of Electrophysiological and Transcriptomic Alterations in Patient-Derived Neurons from CHAMP1 Syndrome

This study investigates CHAMP1 mutations' effects on neuronal development using patient-derived neurons, revealing disruptions in DNA repair, membrane excitability, and synaptic connectivity.

Region-specific cortico-striatal transcriptomic remodeling following early postnatal dopaminergic disturbance

This study identifies region-specific transcriptomic changes in the prefrontal cortex and striatum of mice with early postnatal dopaminergic disturbance using bulk RNA-seq and WGCNA.

Developmental Stage-Dependent Transcriptomic Responses to Neonatal Intraventricular Hemorrhage

This study examines how developmental stage affects the transcriptomic response to neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage in rat brains, identifying stage-specific immune and inflammatory changes.

Pilot study characterizing oral-to-blood microbial DNA translocation in individuals with current cocaine use disorder

This study shows that cocaine use disorder is associated with oral microbial dysbiosis and selective microbial translocation from saliva to blood.

Oxidation of ΔFOSB at Cys172 Controls Hippocampal Gene Targets and Learning

This study shows that oxidation of ΔFOSB at Cys172 regulates its DNA binding and gene expression in the hippocampus, affecting cognitive function under oxidative stress.

Thioredoxin Reductase 1 inhibition triggers ferroptosis in KRAS-independent lung cancers

The paper identifies TXNRD1 as a therapeutic target in KRAS-WT and KRASi-resistant lung cancers by showing TRXR1 inhibition induces ferroptosis through redox mechanisms.

Histone deacetylase 5 in prelimbic prefrontal cortex limits context-associated cocaine seeking

This study shows that HDAC5 in the prelimbic prefrontal cortex reduces context-associated cocaine seeking but not sucrose seeking, altering synaptic gene expression and excitatory/inhibitory balance.

Stimulation modulates cell assemblies linked with gene networks in the human temporal cortex ex vivo

The paper shows that stimulation increases firing rates in pyramidal cells and strengthens cell assemblies in the human temporal cortex, linked to gene networks involving excitatory neurons and non-neurons.

Direct interoceptive input to the insular cortex shapes learned feeding behavior

This study identifies leptin receptor-positive neurons in the insula that regulate feeding behavior and body weight through direct interoceptive input.

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Overexpressing Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Reverses Type 1 Diabetes via Promoting Treg Function and CD8+ T cell exhaustion

This study shows that AAT-overexpressing MSCs reverse T1D in NOD mice by enhancing Treg function and inducing CD8+ T cell exhaustion.

Single-nucleus and spatial landscape of the sub-ventricular zone in human glioblastoma

The paper builds a single-nucleus RNA-sequencing landscape of the SVZ in GBM patients and identifies therapeutic targets in the T_SVZ microenvironment.

Dynamic Regulation Of The Chromatin Environment By ASH1L Modulates Human Neuronal Structure And Function

This study shows that ASH1L mutations disrupt chromatin regulation, leading to neuronal dysfunction and disease-related gene dysregulation, and identifies potential therapeutic strategies.

High affinity chimeric antigen receptor signaling induces an inflammatory program in human regulatory T cells

This study shows that high-affinity CAR signaling in human Tregs leads to increased cytotoxicity and inflammatory cytokine production, while lower affinity reduces these effects.

EphB1 controls proper long-range cortical axon guidance through a cell non-autonomous role in GABAergic cells

This study shows that EphB1 in GABAergic neurons is essential for guiding cortical glutamatergic axons during brain development by preventing them from following blood vessels.

Adaptor protein complex 2 in the orbitofrontal cortexpredicts alcohol use disorder

The paper identifies dysregulated proteins in the orbitofrontal cortex of individuals with alcohol use disorder using proteomics and machine learning, linking them to drinking behavior in mice.

NPAS4 in the medial prefrontal cortex mediates chronic social defeat stress- induced anhedonia and dendritic spine loss

This study shows that NPAS4 in the medial prefrontal cortex is required for chronic social defeat stress-induced anhedonia and dendritic spine loss, but not social avoidance or anxiety-like behavior.

NPAS4 supports drug-cue associations and relapse-like behavior through regulation of the cell type-specific activation balance in the nucleus accumbens

This study shows NPAS4 regulates drug-cue associations and relapse-like behavior by controlling the activation balance between D1- and D2-MSNs in the nucleus accumbens.

Association between resting-state functional brain connectivity and gene expression is altered in autism spectrum disorder

This study identifies genes linked to brain activity that show disrupted associations in autism spectrum disorder, highlighting excitation-inhibition imbalance and regional effects.

Zbtb16 regulates social cognitive behaviors and neocortical development.

This study shows that Zbtb16 deletion in mice causes ASD and SCZ-like behaviors and neocortical developmental defects, with associated transcriptomic changes.

Cell-type and cytosine context-specific evolution of DNA methylation in the human brain

The paper investigates DNA methylation evolution in human brain cells, showing reduced CG methylation and increased CH methylation, linked to schizophrenia risk.

Impairment of methylglyoxal detoxification systems causes mitochondrial dysfunction and schizophrenia-like behavioral deficits

This study shows that impaired methylglyoxal detoxification in mice leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and schizophrenia-like behaviors.

The genomic underpinnings of oscillatory biomarkers supporting successful memory encoding in humans

This paper links brain oscillations to gene expression in human patients, identifying gene modules associated with memory encoding and neuropsychiatric disorders.

MEF2C hypofunction in neuronal and neuroimmune populations cooperate to produce MEF2C haploinsufficiency syndrome-like behaviors in mice

This study shows that MEF2C hypofunction in neuronal and neuroimmune populations causes MCHS-like behaviors in mice, highlighting its role in brain development and function.

Cell-type specific epigenetic links to schizophrenia risk in brain

The paper analyzes cell-type specific DNA methylation and transcriptomes in schizophrenia brains, finding reduced epigenetic distinction between cell types in schizophrenia.